Visan La Petite Ourse 2023 Pascal Chalon

The Visan La Petite Ourse 2023 from Domaine La Grande Ourse by Pascal Chalon is the entry-level cuvée and most immediately approachable expression from this family estate in Tulette, and a convincing demonstration that the best value wines of the southern Rhône often hide in the least publicised appellations. Visan, a village perched on its limestone hills at the north-eastern edge of the Vaucluse, produces wines of natural freshness and precision that make it one of the most engaging Côtes du Rhône Villages designations in the region. La Petite Ourse embodies this truth with directness and generosity: red fruits, garrigue and palate comfort, in a style that is straightforward and immediately appealing.

Terroir and vines

The parcels composing La Petite Ourse are planted on the communes of Visan and Tulette, on soils composed mainly of flint-rich gravels with a sandy-clay layer at the surface, offering remarkable natural drainage that concentrates the grapes without ever desiccating them. Visan benefits from a microclimate slightly cooler than villages further south in the appellation, tempered by northern winds descending from the limestone hills of Tricastin and naturally preserving the freshness and acidity of the grapes. The blend comprises Grenache Noir as the backbone, completed by Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Muscardin, a once-forgotten Vaucluse native variety that brings freshness and fine acidity to the blend and which few vignerons still maintain. The entire vineyard is farmed in certified organic agriculture, with biodynamic preparations and natural decoctions. Hand-harvested with selection in the vineyard. The reds are totally destemmed, macerated with daily pump-overs and pigeage on indigenous yeasts. Vinification by infusion rather than extraction, to preserve freshness and fruit.

Tasting profile

The robe is a bright garnet red with violet reflections, visually fresh and youthful. The nose opens generously onto crunchy red berries, redcurrant, raspberry and fresh cherry, accompanied by notes of Provençal garrigue, black pepper and a light floral touch. The Counoise and Muscardin make their presence felt through a liveliness and aromatic lightness that temper the natural roundness of Grenache with welcome precision and freshness. On the palate, the wine is forthcoming and fruited, with tannins of fine, silky grain from the total destemming and infusion maceration. The texture is supple and enveloping, the fruit crunchy and well-defined. The finish is fruity, spiced and pleasantly persistent, with a natural drinkability that immediately invites the next glass.

The domaine

La Grande Ourse is Pascal Chalon and his family, four generations of passion in the Rhône Valley. Since 2001, he has crafted precise and pure wines in organic and biodynamic farming, orchestrated to the rhythm of the moon, where tradition and emotion meet in each bottle. The domaine's cuvées draw inspiration from the constellations of the bear: La Petite Ourse, La Grande Ourse and Ursa Major, each expressing a different level of ambition and concentration across these same terroirs of Visan and Tulette.

Food pairing

This Petite Ourse pairs beautifully with wood-fired pizza, homemade bolognaise pasta, fine quality charcuterie, roasted lamb with herbs, chicken roasted Provençal style or a board of soft cheeses such as Pélardon or Banon. Served between 15 and 16°C, lightly chilled, it reveals all the fruity generosity and natural freshness of a terroir-driven Visan signed by one of the most sincere and engaging addresses in Drôme Provençale.